HARTFORD CITY, Ind. – A Blackford High School student was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after authorities determined he had brought a gun to school.

A lockdown at the high school remained in effect for at least two hours after the teen was captured, delaying the dismissal of students there and the bus ride home for younger students elsewhere.

According to a joint statement released by Chad Yencer, Blackford Schools superintendent, Hartford City Police Chief Scott Mealy and Blackford County Sheriff Jeff Sones, as an "added precaution" after the gun was discovered about 2:15 p.m., "every student, every backpack and every classroom was searched to ensure student safety."

According to the release, school personnel were told about 2:10 p.m. that the student – whose name was not released – had a firearm in the building.

By 2:16 p.m., the student was in custody and his gun had been seized. "No students or staff were injured during this incident," the officials said.

By that time the school had been put on lockdown, law enforcement had been immediately notified, and "threat protocols and safety plans (were) put into effect," the release said.

Also Tuesday afternoon, a student in an industrial technology lab at the high school had suffered a hand injury and was taken to IU Health Blackford Hospital.

That sparked unfounded rumors that someone had been injured in connection with the events leading to the lockdown.

School officials had confirmed the lockdown at the high school in a tweet. saying authorities were investigating "a rumored threat under way in the building.”

“Currently Blackford County Schools is working with law enforcement to resolve this situation,” that tweet added.

As a result of the lockdown, buses did not make their usual trips to the high school from other facilities at the regular times.

Parents were told about 3 p.m. they could pick up students at Southside, Northside and Montpelier schools, and at Blackford Junior High School.

“Students who ride buses from those schools that transfer at Blackford High School will be held at their schools until this situation has been resolved,” the mid-afternoon message said.

Shortly before 5 p.m., Blackford County Schools in a tweet reported buses were making transfers at the high school and were “on the road again taking students home for the day.”

The statement from Yencer, Mealy and Sones said students "would have access to counselors (Wednesday) morning, and extra personnel will be on sites to help the students."

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.